News that Ariel Winter had been removed from her mother's home and relocated to live with her sister, amid fears that her mother was abusing her, shocked the nation. TMZ reported on Wednedsay (7th Nov. 2012) that the Modern Family star filed for legal emancipation from her mother. However, after two days numerous more reports supporting both sides of the argument have come forward.

Naturally, Chrystal Workman, Ariel's mother, is denying all the allegations. According to a report from TMZ yesterday (8th Nov. 2012) Workman claims that Ariel has been fabricating claims against her, because Workman stopped the 14 year old having sex with her 18 year old boyfriend. "My fourteen-year-old daughter has been dating an eighteen-and-a-half-year-old man, and when I caught them engaging in behavior that I feel my daughter is too young mentally and physically to understand and fully grasp I put a stop to it immediately." She added that she has filed a report with the police, "because legally he is an adult and if he wants to engage in adult behavior with a minor than [sic] he should also be ready to suffer adult consequences for his actions." They also report that Chrystal has accused her eldest daughter Shanelle, with whom Ariel is now living, of money grabbing- the court documents apparently refute this.

In the midst of all the drama, Ariel hasn't said a word, but in an exclusive statement to People, her attorney said: "Ariel is doing well and she has a lot of people who are loving her and supporting her at this time, and I'm pretty confident that she'll fare well through all of this." Adding "She is obviously a very smart and articulate young lady and an accomplished actress."